From the Twin Towers to the Capitol

The attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, taught Americans and the world in the most dramatic way that the only superpower was part of the world, that it did not stand apart, that it was just as vulnerable to attack from an outside enemy as any other country.

The storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021 by fanatical followers of Donald Trump proved that even the mightiest democracy is exposed to domestic dangers. Like every other country. Democracy, though, depends not on the actions of extremist groups but on a nation's political culture. Beyond the shock caused by the attack on Congress, what is more important is the discussion regarding the causes of the uprising and how it is handled by politicians, the state and society. And by what comes next.

As soon as the invaders had left the building, the senators and representatives resumed...